Korean pop culture has always been fast paced so it’s time for you to forget finger hearts, and join in on the new latest trend to take over Korean social media: the Gyaru V – and we’re here to tell you all about it.

What is the Gyaru V?

Also known as Girl Peace or Gyaru Peace by K-netizens, this upside-down peace sign is making the rounds all over the K-Pop community and it is likely you’ve seen it in your favourite idol’s latest Instagram selfie or even on your For You page on TikTok. Just as how the finger hearts gained popularity for being a simple, easy-to-do and cute gesture that could be used to express love and affection, the Gyaru V’s refreshing take on the traditional peace

sign has caught the attention of idols and K-netizens alike for being the new cool thing to

flaunt on social media.

The traditional peace sign has been incredibly ingrained in Asian popular culture and while many people have theories on its origins, there is a consensus that the pose first began in Asia and then found its way throughout other neighboring countries while eventually being popularized all over the globe.

But you may be wondering what the word gyaru even means. It is a term that comes from the Japanese pronunciation for the English slang word ‘gal’, and it refers to one of the most popular Japanese fashion subcultures that first started trending in the 1990s. While gyaru can be used to describe anyone of any gender, it is a style that is found most commonly among women. There are various subcategories under the gyaru style, but it is usually identified by tanned skin, bleached hair, circle lenses and heavy eye makeup.

Who started the trend in Korea?

Many people credit the recent popularity of the Gyaru V to IVE’s Japanese member, Rei who sported the inverted V pose in a picture she shared on Dear U Bubble, but fans were also quick to point out that the pose is nothing new as TWICE’s own Japanese members have been using the upside-down V sign for years now. The pose, which has now earned the nickname “Rei V”, has since been imitated by other idols such as aespa’s Giselle, Treasure’s Jihoon, Red Velvet’s Joy and even Taeyeon!

Not only is the trend incredibly popular on Instagram, but a certain audio on TikTok has been receiving immense popularity for a dance challenge which features – you guessed it – the Gyaru V. You may recognize the song through its catchy tune and lyrics that some may find impossible to get out of their heads:

“ 갸루 짱 예쁘다 같이 놀래? 예쁜 애가 좋아!”

(Gal you’re so pretty, wanna play together? I like pretty girls!)

The audio on TikTok features a snippet of a song originally sung by Japanese rapper OHAYO which was covered and posted by Korean user PANXI, who releases both original work and singing covers on her social media platforms. Her audio has been especially popular among K-pop fans who enjoy pairing the addictive song with edits of their favourite idols while thousands of other Korean TikTok users also dance along to the audio while doing the Gyaru V!

The Public’s Reaction

Although most K-netizens have found the pose “refreshing and cute,” there have been several who expressed their distaste for the trend with its Japanese roots.Comments left by K-netizens criticize the trend for being too readily accepted into Korean pop culture considering the history between the two countries, as well as being a pose related to the gyaru style that is sometimes considered distasteful in Japanese society. However, many others have pointed out that the Gyaru V is just a pose and thus described these negative responses as overreactions to a simple trend.

So, what do you think about the Gyaru V? Are you going to hop onto the trend or are

you already two steps ahead? Let us know in the comments!

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Writer: Gloria Ho Yong Jean

Editor: Han (O.L)

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